Some new aero elements, as well as a new livery in China. The rear wing's flap is a new design, now bending forwards, noticeably so at its extremities, giving the wing a completely new cross-sectional profile specifically for this track. The result is improved downforce and reduced drag, to cope...
A brand new rear wing for China. The main profile and flap sport a curved profile at the centre, with the exit edge of the flap remaining completely flat. The endplates feature a drag-reducing cut at the rear of the top edge, similar to that on the Williams. They also have a long, vertical slit just...
Another aero development for China is a new mid wing on top of the engine cover. It is new in that it is not horizontal, but instead slopes upwards. This makes it more efficient in that it generates a higher quality airflow to the rear of the car, with less turbulence. Being in the middle of the...
McLaren brought two solutions to China, their differences related to main profile and endplate. Both are an optimised mix of previous designs seen throughout the season. The Mark I version sports the original spoon profile introduced early in the year, coupled with the endplates adopted at...
New for China, as part of Ferrari's never-ending aero development, but already seen on other cars such as the Renault and the Honda, is this additional device - part of the airflow management in the crucial area in front of the sidepods. These elements' function is to split the airflow in two parts,...
Another evolution for China, with dramatically curved upper profiles connected to the nosecone at their inner edge, in a similar fashion to the Renault's. The endplates are the ones introduced in France, with two horizontal airflow splitters - one halfway up in the centre, and one at the upper...
Following the banning of its mass damper, the R26 seemed to lose its edge slightly. In Monza it seemed back in good shape, though the Italian track isn't the most demanding in terms of lateral load transfer and rapid direction changes. Nevertheless, the car looks well balanced aerodynamically, which...
Another Ferrari strength in China will be the 248 F1's suspension package, which along with improved engine driveability, will greatly assist tyre-wear management - in combination with Bridgestone tyres featuring a low degree of hysteresis. This means the rubber is better able to adapt to variations...
Ferrari's recent strong form has been largely attributed to aero and tyre improvements, but development of the 056 engine - the most reliable V8 in the second part of the season - has also been key and will again play a vital role in China. Shanghai is a stop-go circuit, with plenty of acceleration...
